A Deer Hunter's Guide To 'Mountain Talk' Inside The Outdoors

December 01, 1985|by TOM FEGELY, The Morning Call

This is the weekend when the mass migration of deer hunters takes place - from the Lehigh Valley and beyond into the state's mountain country. The change of residence causes some problems for the orange-capped migrants, many of whom have not mastered the language of the natives with which they share environs for a few magical days each fall.

Mountain folk who toil in diners, taverns, grocery stores, and gas stations as well as the codgers who dwell in the vicinity of mountain cabins, brought to life once a year by deer hunters, have their own special brand of talk. Learning to master the language assures a smooth transition from visitor to "mountain folk."

As a public service to hunters heading into the mountains to hunt deer, here's a guide to basic mountain talk that should take you through at least two or three days of the season. It is recommended that you phase down the use of this language when you return to the office, however.

- Fetch - To get; also used by those of the Pennsylvania Dutch persuasion as in "Go fetch me some water, boy."

- A-fixin - Getting ready; preparing. "Ma's a-fixin to take the mule into town to fetch somevittles."

- Vittles - Victuals; food. "It's time we be headin' back home to get some vittles."

- Flatlander - Anyone from the Lehigh Valley who hunts in Potter County. "Them flatlanders is welcome here as long as they bring lots'a money with 'em."

- Hoot - Used in reference to any subject about which you don't care very much. "I don't give a hoot what Ma says, I ain't gonna rake them leaves when I know they's gonna soon get covered up by snow anyway."

- Holler - The dead end of a mountain valley. "Ol' Charlie lives down at the end of Possum Holler."

- Hoot-and-a-holler - When used together these words are a measure of length - specifically the distance that a sharp yell and full-fledged scream will carry. "Jeb lives a just ahoot-and-a-holler down thet thar road."

- A-piece - A short distance. "There's some good grouse huntin' up the road a-piece."

- Crick - (1) A stiffness in a specific area of the body. "Pa got a crick in his neck."

(2) A small stream. "Pa got a good trout crick runnin' right through his pasture."

- Dang - An acceptable cuss word. "Thet boy dang well better get home before dark if'n he knows what's good for him."

- You'ns - Refers to an individual (you). "You'ns had better get off my land afore I unload this buckshot into yer hide."

- Youse - Typically used in plural form. "Youse guys is trespassin'." - Doins - An event of community interest. "There's big doins down at the grange hall tonight."

- Slud - The past tense of slide. "I was comin' down that hill when I tripped and slud all the way to the bottom."

- Hill (hereabouts) - A prominent upheaval, sometimes referred to as a mountain, in the Lehigh Valley region. "I think I'll take a quick run up that hill and see if I can find a few squirrels."

- Hill (thereabouts) - Approximately a dozen Lehigh Valley-type hills, piled one atop the other and all with rocky vertical ascents, found in Northcentral Pennsylvania. "If you think I'm goin' up on that hill to hunt deer you're nuts"

- Clum - Used similarly to slud except to indicate vertical movement. "I done clum that hill for the last time."

- Plumb - Totally. "I'm plumb tuckered out."

- Put out - Annoyed; being bothered to the point of frustration. "Ma's real put out over your refusin' to eat her spinach pie.".

- Smack dab - A precise location. "I shot that buck smack dab through the heart at 300 yards." - Ya don't say - Literally translated means: "You do say but I don't believe it." Can be used as a response to anyone who claims to have made such a spectacular shot.